Doctor Calls PCOS Sufferer a "Big Fat Pig," But It's the Woman's Response That Went Viral

Whitney Thore, star of TLC's "My Big Fat Fabulous Life," knows a thing or two about body shaming. But after she got an unspeakably terrible letter in the mail criticizing her figure--from a doctor no less--she decided she had enough.

So Thore, who suffered weight gain from polycystic ovaries, or PCOS, shared the horrible note on her Facebook page. Then, she had a few words for the person who sent it.

"I am not a fan of you or your TV program but at the suggestions of a few of my patients, I have seen 2 or 3 of your programs, which I find to be so distasteful and very dishonest. It is my understanding that you blame your weight gain on polycystic ovaries but that is a bunch of bull; if you really believe that, you are in complete denial. The cause of your weight gain is plain old gluttony and you know it. It is very sad to see you blaming a physical condition (polycystic ovaries) for being a big fat pig rather than blaming it on your lack of self-control. There is nothing about your life that is “Fabulous”; when you are a big fat sow as you are, it is a disgusting existence. You need to get out of denial and do something about your extreme obesity."

Unbelievable, right?

But here's where it gets inspiring. Thore bravely admits she used to think similar things about herself that the doctor said in the note--before realizing her self-worth was not defined by her weight.

She wrote, "I, too, thought I led a 'disgusting existence' for over a decade precisely because of the feedback I got from society like you see here in this letter. The thing is that I don't believe that anymore. I know that my life has been messy and complicated and overwhelmingly wonderful and I am not defined by how fat I am."

She said her journey with PCOS was a difficult one, with weight gain only being one part of her health struggle. But it's clear she's come a long way since being diagnosed. And that's even clearer with the message she ended her response on.

She wrote, "PCOS is not even the point of this—it absolutely does not matter why someone is fat (or thin, or disabled, or anything else). All human beings deserve respect. My heart aches for all the human beings this man 'treated,' because he clearly treated them poorly and with no respect. He can do better."